(Bloomberg) Most uninsured people in the U.S. have yet to try to sign up for health coverage under Obamacare, and a key advocacy group said it will hire more workers to reach those unfamiliar with the law.
About 68% of uninsured Americans havent yet used online marketplaces run by the federal government or states to sign up for a health plan, according to a survey released Thursday by Enroll America, a nonprofit group with ties to the White House that is promoting the law in 11 states. Many people without insurance think they cant afford coverage and dont know federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act can help pay their premiums, the group said.
Enroll America said it would increase its field staff by 30%, or 58 people, to educate uninsured people about the financial assistance available under the law.
One of the biggest barriers, bigger than any technical problem, is people believe they wont be able to get affordable insurance, Tresa Undem, a pollster who conducted Enroll Americas survey, said on a conference call for reporters. Thats their history. Thats their experience; they say I cant afford health insurance.
About 2.1 million people selected private health plans under the ACA in time to have coverage starting Jan. 1, the first date it was available, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Open enrollment for 2014 coverage under the law, known as Obamacare, ends on March 31. The Obama administration estimated that 7 million people would use the new exchanges to gain coverage in 2014.
